Understanding Substance Abuse Recovery

When a person reaches the crossroad of a crisis in his or her life, all of the prior learning, beliefs, and coping mechanisms that made him or her tick in the past are suddenly no longer valid. Everything has fallen apart. This knowledge is essential for understanding substance abuse recovery. Those who have been caught up in the world of substance abuse live as though they have been planted in tainted ground. They can plant only toxic seeds that bear poisonous fruit, and their lives are no longer their own.

The goal of substance abuse recovery is to remediate that ground so that it plants fresh seeds that bear good fruit. Substance abuse recovery is about rebuilding lives from the ground up. Substance abuse recovery is not a week-long, month-long, or year-long process. It is a new mode of living that lasts for an entire lifetime. Substance abuse recovery is not an isolated event in a person’s life but is instead a dynamic and ever-changing journey of discovery, pain and sorrow, and incredible beauty and joy.

A Lifelong Commitment

The famous author and spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, once said, “Your inner purpose is to awaken. It is as simple as that. You share that purpose with every other person on the planet – because it is the purpose of humanity.” Addiction recovery begins with this kind of inner purpose, and it involves a unique type of awakening. It consists of the realization that one is not alone in this world, but is instead part of an interconnected community of beings, each one crucial to the functioning of the whole.

Substance abuse recovery programs begin with drug or alcohol detoxification. This often painful but essential process teaches the patient’s body how to live without drugs, and rebalances the brain chemicals so that they can once again function normally. But detox is only the beginning of addiction recovery. When that part’s over, the recovery process begins. Patients will often grieve for their old way of life and will feel lost as they try to find their way around the new one. Moving forward takes courage. Comprehensive substance abuse recovery programs offer continuing treatment and support so that patients may successfully keep on this often challenging journey.

Foundations Of a Recovered Life

As outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, several broad areas must be addressed for a successful substance abuse recovery. These begin with the patient’s physical health. Patients in recovery from substance abuse must follow a healthy diet, live an active lifestyle, and have regular checkups.

Patients in addiction recovery must also find a stable home environment. If their former home environment was one that contributed to their substance abuse, it might be necessary to move on. Recovery patients must also find a source of income, preferably through some form of meaningful employment or similar. But perhaps even most importantly, those who are in recovery must have a support system of friends and social networks that provide hope and love.

Cognitive Processing Therapy Program

It is not unusual for those who have substance abuse issues to also have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, from various traumas that have occurred in their lives. Often, this PTSD has also contributed to their substance abuse. A cognitive processing therapy program is a type of program that is designed to treat PTSD. This is a useful program to be used in conjunction with an addiction recovery program, or on its own for the treatment of PTSD. In a cognitive processing therapy program, patients are encouraged to talk about their traumatic experiences and the after-effects in a safe and supportive environment. They will receive help with overcoming the unhealthy thought patterns that accompany PTSD.

Call to Learn More About Substance Abuse Recovery Today

If you are interested in learning more about substance abuse recovery, call Promises Behavioral Health today. Promises Behavioral Health offers substance abuse recovery programs in a variety of locations. We also offer programs in cognitive processing therapy and other dual diagnosis programs to aid in recovery. You cannot recover successfully from substance abuse without connection with those who understand what you are going through. Call us at 844.875.5609 and find out how our programs can help you plant the seeds to grow a fruitful new life.